Chapter Text
Being new in town had admittedly granted New Kid some friends but they hadn’t actually… Bonded? Was that the right term? They’d only been here a few days and met plenty of other children but there was a stilted awkwardness due to New Kid’s mute nature.
Despite playing with the kids in their neighborhood, that energy didn’t seem to translate outside of their little game just yet.
So, once again during recess, they found a quiet space towards the very back left corner of the schoolyard, deciding this was the perfect place to play with a toy they brought from home by themselves.
“Whatcha doin’ all the way over here New Kid?”
New Kid looks up from their green monster truck to see Butters smiling back at them, kneeling down to take a closer look.
They're unsure of how to answer that so they simply shrug and hand it over to him.
“Wow, I don’t think I’ve seen one of those before! Oh geez it’s the metal kind, would’ja mind if I-?”
Without hesitating New Kid nods affirmatively with a bigger smile, more than happy to share.
When he takes it he whispers ‘woooow’ to himself, turning it over a few times before wedging his finger in the left side window to open the door.
“That sure is neat New Kid! All the ones I have are plastic cuz’a this one time I accidentally left one on the stairs, tripped over it and knocked my mom over. Had me grounded for almost five weeks gee-whiz…”, he mindlessly comments as he continues to examine the toy, opening and shutting the door repeatedly as his other hand spins the wheels.
After a few seconds more of fidgeting he hands the toy back over, a hint of sadness flashing over his eyes.
“Thank you for lettin’ me look at it, that sure was nice’a you.”
“Keep it.”, New Kid responds with a warm smile still present, holding up their hands to decline the offer.
“Oh, I cou… Wait, what?”, Butters stops his polite refusal and pinches his eyebrows together for a moment, “Say that again? Are… You’re a GIRL?”
New Kid flinches and pushes a finger against his lips with a fearful shush, looking over their shoulder to make sure nobody else heard.
They shake their head to try and dissuade the accusation, but it doesn’t seem to be working as Butters continues to be loudly astonished.
“You sure had me fooled! Me and the fellas, well, I mean if y-!”
They push their finger even harder into Butters' mouth, and he finally gets the hint, quieting down as he tilts his head.
“... Ish there any reashon yew dohn’t want people to know thrat?”, he asks with a confused look on his face.
New Kid removes their finger with a frustrated grimace, trying to think of something to say.
Instead of speaking, they pull out a pencil and notepad from their coat pocket, something they’d been drawing in earlier.
Butters watches with curiosity as they write down a message, taking it when they hand it to him.
“... ‘If you think I am, that’s fine, but keep it between us’. Huh. Well, I’ll just keep callin’ you New Kid anyways. You saved my be-hind from that dirty elf so your secret is safe with me.”, he says with a shrug as he gives the notepad back, “So, you like hot wheels New Kid?”
They let a quiet sigh of relief out through their nose as they agree with another nod, feeling like they’d finally made their first real friend.